Improvement in can-openers



W. H. HUGKENSMITH & G. A. WEANING.

Can-Openers.

N0.151, 878. PatentedJune9,1874.

WITNESSES INVENTORfi BY X1 7" z I Mr 6 ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

\VILLIAM H. HOOKENSMITH AND GEORGE A. \VEANING, OF BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT; SAID WEANING ASSIGNOR TO SAID HOOKENSMITH.

I IMPROVEMENT IN CAN-OPENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 15 1,878, dated June 9, 1874; application filed May 23, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. H001;- ENSMITH and GEORGE A. WEANING, of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of- (Jonnecticut, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Adjustable Can-Openers and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings making a part of this specification, audto the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a representation of our canopener in positionfor working, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view. Fig. 3 is aplan view.

This invention has relation to cutters for opening metallic preserve cans or boxes; and

it consists in the combination of adjustable clamps on a suitable handle with a cutter,

which is applied to a circularly-movable arm fixed to the stem of a circularly-movable handle, whereby the device can be firmly clamped to cans of difi'erent diameters and the cans securely held while operating the cutter, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

ment-clamp B is cast with a cross-bar, C, but the clamp B is cast separate from this bar and applied to it by means of a portion, 1), working in a long slot, 0, and adjustable by means of a screw, D,which is tapped through a lug, 0. By means of the two clamps B B and the screw D the opener can be securely applied to cans of difl'erent diameters, and by means of a handle, 0, which is cast with the cross-bar O, andwhich is slightly depressed, as shown in Fig. 2. Between the two clamps B B, and secured to a vertical stem, (1, which is free to turn about its axis in the cross-bar O, is an arm, E, having a V-shaped knife, g, applied to it for cutting through the end of a can. The knife-carrying arm E is arranged on the lower side of the cross-bar O, and on the upper side of this bar is a handle, G, which is secured to the stem (1, as shown in Fig. 2.

WVhen the opener is applied to a can, and firmly secured thereto, a circular piece may be cut entirely or partly out of the head of the can by simply turning the handle G about its axis, as represented in Fig. 1 at the same time the can should be held by grasping the handle G, which affords a very convenient and a strong hold.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The cross-bar O, slotted and constructed with a handle, 0, and a lug, c, in combination with clamps B B, and a cutter-carryin g arm,

E, on the stem of a circularly-movable handle, G, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the above wehave hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two witnesses.

WM. H. HOOKENSMITH. GEOR. A. WEANING. Witnesses as to W. H. HooKENsMITn:

GEORGE E. UPHAM, J As. B. LooMIs. Witnesses as to G. A. VVEANING:

Joan E. Penn, W. B. HrNoKs. 

